May 07, (THEWILL) – Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to show his belief in his administration’s newly introduced Nigeria First Policy by swapping his Cadillac Escalade presidential vehicle for home-made vehicles like Innoson and Nord.
THEWILL reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired on Monday by the President, approved the ‘Nigeria First’ policy to prioritise the patronage of local content.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told State House Correspondents that the policy, which would soon be reinforced through an executive order, involved a ban on the importation of foreign goods, especially those that could be produced locally in Nigeria.
Reacting in a statement released on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Atiku challenged President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car. He also called on the President to commit to using Nigerian hospitals for all medical care.
He said, “The Tinubu administration’s latest ‘Nigeria First’ mantra, paraded through the Federal Executive Council, is nothing but another tired PR stunt—designed to deceive, not deliver. Nigerians have grown weary of hollow speeches. If this government is truly serious about local content and economic patriotism, it must start at the very top.
“We challenge President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car. That single act will do more to promote local industry than a thousand policy memos. Let’s see the ministers—those shameless Rolls-Royce connoisseurs—sweat it out in Nigerian-made vehicles too. Or is “Nigeria First” only for the masses?
“And speaking of double standards, it’s time Mr President shelves his love affair with Paris and London. If he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. Nigeria is beautiful—unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.
“More importantly, the era of jetting off for medical tourism while preaching self-reliance must end. We demand that President Tinubu—champion of “Nigeria First”—conduct all future medical check-ups at LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, or even the N41 billion Akwa Ibom world-class hospital built by an uncommon transformer, in Uyo. If these hospitals are good enough for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for their Commander-in-Chief. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy.
“This government’s addiction to foreign luxuries while demanding sacrifice from suffering Nigerians is the height of insincerity. True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example.
“Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
